INTERNATIONAL

In a major setback for the Bashar al-Assad regime, Aleppo, Syria’s second-largest city, has been captured by opposition factions led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). In the latest development, the HTS has taken control of the airport, local media reports said. HTS forces have reportedly overrun government troops in Aleppo, marking the group’s most substantial victory since 2016. The fall of Aleppo underscores a broader decline in Assad regime's ability to sustain its control over Syria. The Jerusalem Post reported that the Syrian government had anticipated assistance from its allies but has instead faced abandonment as both Iran and Russia remain preoccupied with their own conflicts. According to HTS, their forces have reclaimed more than half of the territory in Aleppo and ma...

Armed group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) has claimed to re-enter the city of Aleppo, marking an escalation in Syria's ongoing conflict, however, most of them have been arrested in Aleppo, as per Syrian military. "The army has arrested a number of terrorists who took photos in several neighborhoods of Aleppo to show that terrorist groups have seized and controlled these neighborhoods," Syrian military has claimed. The offensive, which began two days ago, saw heavy clashes between HTS militants and Syrian government forces, as reported by Türkiye’s Anadolu Agency. "Since this morning, armed groups have seized over 50 villages in the eastern and southeastern regions of Idlib, areas that were previously controlled by the Assad regime," the report added. HTS had announced on Friday that...

Four civilians, including two university students, were killed in Aleppo on Friday following insurgent shelling of student dormitories, according to Syrian media. The attack was part of a broader offensive launched on Wednesday by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), formerly affiliated with Al-Qaeda. The extremist group targeted several towns and villages in northwestern Aleppo, an important city in the war-torn country. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that the ongoing clashes in the region have claimed 132 lives in the past 24 hours, including 65 HTS members, 18 allied militants, and 49 regime forces. The fighting has centered around areas straddling Idlib and Aleppo provinces, with some clashes occurring less than 10 kilometers from Aleppo city. In response to the...

Several violations of the ceasefire in southern Lebanon, with gunfire heard in Maroun Al-Ras and nearby areas, including Aitaroun and the outskirts of Al-Malkiya, since early morning. According to reports, the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) reportedly targeted towns such as Aita Al-Shaab and Bint Jbeil with artillery shelling during the night, marking a breach of the truce, which was announced just two days ago. In a warning issued by the IOF, residents of specific areas in southern Lebanon, including Shebaa, Hebbariyeh, Marjayoun, Arnoun, Yohmor, Qantara, Chaqra, Baraachit, Yater, and Mansouri, were instructed not to move south of a designated line or return to their homes. The statement emphasized that civilians venturing southward would be at risk, advising them to remain in saf...

Six people, including a policeman and three Rangers officials, were killed, and over 100 others sustained injuries during three days of violent protests in Pakistan following the arrest of former Prime Minister Imran Khan. The clashes erupted as Khan’s supporters took to the streets, clashing with security forces and causing widespread chaos, Dawn reported. The Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) confirmed the civilian casualties, while injuries were reported from several cities, including Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, and Peshawar. Protesters burned vehicles, vandalized public property, and even stormed military installations, prompting a heavy crackdown by law enforcement agencies. Imran Khan, who was arrested on corruption charges, accused the government of orchestra...

Hezbollah is preparing an official public funeral for its former chief Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed two months ago in an Israeli strike, the group's deputy political council leader Mahmud Qomati announced on Wednesday, Al Arabiya reported. Addressing a press conference in Beirut's southern suburbs, Qomati stated, "The service was postponed to organize a funeral worthy of Nasrallah. We are now preparing for a public and official ceremony to honor him." The announcement comes amid the recent ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, which brought an end to weeks of hostilities. Thousands of Lebanese displaced by the conflict have begun returning to their homes. Hassan Nasrallah, a pivotal figure in the organization, led Hezbollah for decades and was instrumental in shaping its pol...

Israeli soldiers are increasingly unwilling to continue fighting the ongoing war in Gaza, with many citing exhaustion and psychological trauma from the prolonged conflict. Over a year after the October 7, the war has claimed more than 40,000 Palestinian lives and left Israel grappling with a fatigued military force. Reports reveal that many Israeli soldiers have sought psychological counseling for battle fatigue and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Some troops have tragically died by suicide, unable to cope with the mental strain of the conflict. Reservists, who form the backbone of Israel's wartime forces, are also showing resistance. Many have refused to return to duty, with some units seeing significant attrition; one unit of 12 now has only five active members, accord...

A cease-fire agreement between Israel and the Lebanese group Hezbollah, brokered through US and French mediation, came into force on Wednesday at 4 a.m. local time (0200 GMT). The conflict, deeply rooted in Hezbollah's pro-Palestinian stance and Lebanon's solidarity with Palestine, intensified after Hamas launched its cross-border attack on October 7, 2023. Hezbollah's subsequent missile, rocket, and drone attacks targeted Israeli positions, escalating violence along the Israel-Lebanon border. Hezbollah stated that its actions were intended to pressure Israel into halting its military operations in Gaza. Israel responded with extensive airstrikes across Lebanon and launched a ground invasion in the southern regions. The clashes resulted in heavy losses for Israeli forces, parti...

The Adani Group and several Indian states, including Jammu Kashmir, are under investigation following a U.S. indictment accusing the conglomerate of bribing Indian officials to secure lucrative solar power contracts, India Today reported. The indictment claims that the Adani Group funneled $265 million in bribes, a substantial portion of which was allegedly directed towards officials in Andhra Pradesh. According to the report, these payments were made to facilitate deals with state-run electricity distribution companies between 2021 and 2023. States named in the indictment include Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Chhattisgarh, Jammu Kashmir, and Andhra Pradesh. The latter was governed by Jagan Reddy’s YSR Congress during the alleged bribery period. At the heart of the case is a contract ...

A devastating ambush on a convoy traveling from Parachinar to Peshawar claimed the lives of at least 49 people, including seven women and a nine-year-old girl, and left 28 others injured. Officials fear the death toll could rise as the injured receive treatment, Dawn News reported. The attack occurred on Thursday in Mandori Charkhel, a region plagued by sectarian tensions and land disputes. Deputy Commissioner Javedullah Mehsood reported that the convoy of approximately 200 vehicles came under heavy gunfire, with attackers targeting from both sides of the road. Survivor Ajmeer Hussain recounted the horror, describing a sudden burst of gunfire that killed passengers beside him instantly. "I thought these were my last moments," he said, recovering in a local hospital. The shootin...